Project Orion Progress and Challenges

Mark GeyerOrion Project Manager

February 26, 2008

Constellation Program Components

Ares V -Heavy Lift

LaunchVehicle

Ares I -Crew

LaunchVehicle

EarthDeparture

Stage

Orion - CrewExploration

Vehicle

Altair-Lunar

Lander

Orion-CEV Expanded View

Launch Abort Systememergency escape during launch

Crew Modulecrew and cargo transport

Service Modulepropulsion, electrical power,

fluids storage

Spacecraft Adapterstructural transition toAres launch vehicle

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• 5 meter diameter capsule – Apollo shape

• Significant increase in volume from Apollo (3.9 meter)

• Proven safe technique to withstand extreme heating loads

• Able to leverage Apollo performance data

• Reduced development time and risk

• Larger Crew Accommodations

• Lunar missions: 4 crew

• Space Station missions: 6 crew

• Expanded Mission Capabilities

• Long Duration (6 months)

• State-of-the-Art Materials, Systems

3.9 M 5.0 M

Orion Design and Operational Heritage

Orion Earth Orbital Mission

• Capable of supporting ISSmissions

• Transport up to 6 crewmembers on Orion for crewrotation

• 210 day stay time

• Emergency lifeboat forentire ISS crew

• Deliver limited pressurizedcargo for ISS resupply

Orion Lunar Mission

• Orion and Lunar Landerboosted to lunar orbit

– Up to 4 crew onboard

• Lander descends to lunarsurface

• Orion is uninhabited duringlunar surface operations

• Lander upper stage returnsto Orion in lunar orbit

• Orion returns crew to Earth

Orion/Ares Flight Schedule Overview

FY06

SRR

Project

Requirements Prime Award

CDR

SDR

PDR

Development / Qual

Testing

Flight Article

Production

InitialOperationalCapability

9/2013

Project Design

Integrated ARES-

Orion Launches

FY07 FY08 FY09 FY10 FY11 FY12 FY13 FY14 FY15

TransonicAbort

Max qNom Abort

Devt.LASPA

ProtoLASPA

Ares I-XFT

(1st stage test)

Ares 1-YHi Alt Abort

Orion 1OrbitFlight

Tumble Abort

O-2 O-3 O-4 O-5

FullOperationalCapability(6-Crew)

Lunar Sortie Mission

Video

Orion Project Driving Challenges

• Expect to fly Orion for a generation

• Mission adaptability as explorationevolves

• Block upgrades to capability asexperience gained

– First major upgrade for lunar capability

• Invest in safety – “Liftoff to Landing”

• Design for low operations cost –Invest in life cycle efficiency and lowesttotal ownership cost as basis ofsustainability

• Leverage experienced workforce andindustrial capability

Recent Orion Accomplishments

Facility Renovation–

GRC IET Facility

Wind Tunnel Testing

LAS Abort Motor Test Firing

Abort Test Launch Complex - WSMR

Pad Abort Test #1 – Crew Module

Boilerplate Test Article